Vascular implant

Abstract

A vascular graft configured for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a biocompatible polymeric textile structure formed of a plurality of filaments spaced to enable blood flow through spaces between the filaments. The textile structure forms a tubular body having a first longitudinally extending opening. An inner element has a proximal end and a distal end, the inner element composed of an open pitched metal coil having a second longitudinally extending opening and is positioned within the longitudinally extending opening of the textile structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a vascular implant comprising the steps of:
 a) forming one or more polymeric fibers into tubular structure with a first lumen extending therethrough;
 b) either before or after step (a), winding a metallic member about a mandrel and holding the metallic member at a first diameter; 
 c) after steps (a) and (b), positioning the metallic member within the tubular structure; 
 d) releasing the metallic member so the metallic member expands within the tubular structure to a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and 
 
 e) melting the tubular structure to a proximal end and a distal end of the metallic member. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is formed from a series of polymeric fibers woven or braided. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is formed from one or more polymeric fibers electrospun. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of a) winding the attached tubular structure and metallic member into a secondary helical configuration and heat setting into the helical configuration and b) crimping the tubular structure prior to the step of positioning the metallic member within the tubular structure to increase an amount of fiber surface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the metallic member is an open pitched coil, and further comprising the step of inserting a tube having at least one engaging feature into proximal coils of the metallic member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the metallic member is a metal coil and further comprising the step of crimping the tubular structure subsequent to the step of positioning the metallic member within the tubular structure, the metallic member not crimping during the crimping of the tubular structure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers form a braid formed on a mandrel. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of cooling the tubular structure and compressing the tubular structure on the mandrel to crimp the tubular structure to increase an amount of fiber per unit length. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular structure is crimped prior to positioning the metallic member within the tubular structure. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the metallic member is released, only some portions come in contact with the tubular structure while other portions are not in contact. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic member does not come into contact with peaks of the tubular structure. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of inserting a tube into windings of the metallic member. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tube is screwed into the windings of the metallic member. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein an outer diameter of the tube is equal to an outer diameter of the metallic member so the tube and metallic member are flush. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of melting the tubular structure onto the tube. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic member is formed of a radiopaque material. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of inserting a filament through a lumen of the implant and winding the filament on a mandrel to a secondary helical shape.